Display stand base



June 14, 1960 R. c. ADAMS 2,940,710

DISPLAY STAND BASE Filed Sept. 8, 1959 A 3 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

RAYMOND C. ADAMS BY} ATTO RN EYS June 14, 1960 R. c. ADAMS DISPLAY STAND BASE Fil ed Sept. 8, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RAYMOND C. ADAMS ATIOR N EYS June 14, 1960 R. c. ADAMS 2,940,710

DISPLAY STAND BASE Filed Sdpt. 8', 19 59 3 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. RAYMOND C. ADAMS ATTORNEYS DISPLAY STAND BASE Raymond C. Adams, 807 Statler Bldg., Framingham Center, Mass.

Filed Sept. 8, 1959, Ser- No. 838,594

Claims. (Cl. 248-174) This invention relates to display stands and more particularly to a display stand base formed of corrugated cardboard.

Display stands formed of cardboard have been made in various styles and constructions. The present invention is an improvement over display stands of the type consisting of a hollow rectangular base formed of a this is the extent to which the base can be collapsed; and,

if it is of any appreciable size, it is bulky and awkward to handle, even when collapsed.

Accordingly, the object of this inventionis to provide a hollow display stand base formed of corrugated cardboard which can be collapsed to a first fiat package which then can be folded upon itself to form a second smaller package.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a display stand embodying the present invention and comprising a preferred form of hollow collapsible base and a tray supported by the base;

Fig. 2 is a view like Fig. 1, but with the tray removed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing howthe base is collapsed to a flat package;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating how the flat package of Fig. 3 is folded to form still a smaller package;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view like Fig. 1 but showing a second form of collapsible and foldable base supporting two display trays;

Fig. 6 is a view like Fig. 5, but with the trays removed;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing how the base'of Figs. 5 and 6 is collapsed and folded; and g Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the same base in fully folded condition.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a display stand comprising a base A and a tray B supported 10, 12, 14, and 16 (preferably on the inside surface of the cardboard) facilitate bending to form the aforementioned walls. At corresponding points between rear wall '2 and front wall 8, the inner surfaces of side walls 4 and 6 are provided with vertical score lines 22 and 24 respectively which, permit them to be, folded upon themselves.

States atent For convenience, wall 4 is considered as comprising a rear portion 4a and a forward portion 4b demarcated by score line 22. Corresponding portions of wall 6 are identified as 6a and 6b respectively.

At its bottom end, side wall 4' is slit and scored to form a flap 26. When flap 26 is flush with side wall 4, its bottom edge 28 extends below the bottom edge of side wall 4. When placing the stand upright on a fioor, flap 26 is bent outwardly as shown to allow the bottom edge of side wall 4 to rest on the floor. In its outward position, flap 26 acts against the supporting floor to stabilize the stand so that it will not fall over sidewise and also to prevent the stand from sliding on the floor. Although not shown, it is to be understood that side wall 6 has a flap corresponding to flap 26.

Side walls 4 and 6 are not rectangular but are cut back to form irregular top edges, each comprising a short forward portion 29 that extends rearwardly and downwardly, a long inter-mediate portion 30 that extendsrearwardly and upwardly, and a short rear portion 32 that extends horizontally and is terminated short of rear wall 2 by a vertical slot 34. Front wall 8 is provided with a top flap 4t] demarcated by a score line 42 and bent back between side walls 4 and 6. The opposite side edges of flap 40 are provided with tabs 44 that engage top edge portions 28 and thereby prevent the flap from falling down to a position where it can no longer prevent sides 4 and 6 from folding on themselves along score lines 22 and 24. The top edge of front wall 8 and edge portions 29 and 30 support tray B in an inclined article-displaying position (see Fig. 1). Flap 40 also helps support tray B, acting as a form of shelf for the tray.

Tray B is shown as having two side walls 46 and 48, a bottom wall 50, and a lower end wall 52. An upper end wall may be provided, but it is not necessary. Tray B is provided with a flap 54 on its underside adjacent its upper end. Flap 54 fits into slots 34 and functions to lock the tray to the base in such a manner as to keep the tray from tipping forward on the base.

As seen in Fig. 2, the rear portions 4a and 6a of side Walls 4 and 6 are formed with'horizontal slots 60 and 62 respectively. Slots 60 and 62 commence at edge 30 and terminate short of rear wall 22. The width, i.e. vertical dimension, of slots 60 and 6 2 is approximately the same and preferably slightly larger than twice the thickness of the sheet stock. Formed on the outside surface of side wall 4 and extending from slot 6!) to rear wall 2 are two parallel horizontal score lines 64 and 66. -Side wall 6 has an identical pair of score lines 68 and- 70. Rear wall 2 has two aligned slits 72 and 74 which commence at side walls 4 and 6 and terminate short of each other. The inside surface of rear wall 2 has a pair of parallel score lines 76 and 78 which extend between the adjacent ends of slits 72 and 74.

Referring now to Figs 31and 4, base A is collapsed and folded in the following manner: 'Flap 40 is folded upwardly out from between side walls 4 and 6. Then side walls 4 and 6 are folded upon themselves, placing rear wall 2, the side walls 4 and 6, and front wall 8 in successively contacting and substantially parallel'relatiorrship. Either rear portion 4a or rear portion 6a may be immediately next to rear wall 2. Then the rear wall 2 and the side wall wall portions 4a and 6a are folded down and frontward so that the top end of rear wall 2 is positioned in front of and hidesthe upper ends of side wall portions 4:: and 6a (Fig. 4). It is to be noted thatthe top ends of rear wall 2 and side wall portions 4a and 4b will fold forwardly but not rearwardly because of the disposition of the horizontal slots 60, 62, score "lines 64-70, slits 72, 74', and score lines 76, 78. V

When side walls 4 and 6 are folded upon themselves soas to lie close to rear wall 2, the score lines -64- and 66 will be directly in front of slit 72 and score lines 68 and 70 will be directly in front of slit 74. Similarly, slots 60 and 62 will be in front of score lines 76 and 78. It ,i toh note t a .sw eli e an 66 a ea le s a elf-7. an t a slo ,6. i no longer t n tat lin s .76 arid'78: Similarly, score lines 68 and 70 are equal in length to slit 7 4, and slot 62 is no longer thanscore lines 16 and 78. The net result is .that substantially everywhere along the line of bending the top ends" of rear wall and side walls 4 and 6, the thickness of material that is actually bent is the thickness of a single wall. Bending a single layer of corrugated cardboard is readily aecomplished, whereas bending several layers simultaneously along a given line is gnot readily accomplished since the outside layer (the convex sideof the bending curvature) is subjected to a greater stretching or tearing stress than the next adjacent layer However, if at a given point along the bending line eachof the layers but one is slit, then onlyone layer isla ctually bent; the others separate at that point. In order to keep the layers in single pieces and to avoid need for hinges, the successive layers are slit at different pointsalong the bending line, with only one layer actu- ,'ally unslitat each given point.

Figs. 5-8 illustrate a second form of the invention which features rearward instead of forward folding. It comprises a base C and two trays E and F. Thesecond form of the invention is also constructed of a single sheet of corrugated cardboard stock which is scored at 100, 1 0 2, 104, and 106 to facilitate bending into a recltangnlar base comprising arearwall 108, side walls 110 a front Wall 114. The ends of the sheet arestapledtogether by staples 11'] at 116. The side walls are formed with flaps 1.18 at their bottom tends. Flaps -118 are like flaps 26;

The side walls are substantially identical in outline, each having an irregular top edge comprising a first rearwardlyand downwardly extendingtop edge portion 120, afirst rearwardly and upwardly extending portion 122, La seeond rear-wardly and downwardly extending portion and a Qnd rearwardly and upwardly extending portion 126. Formed integral with side walls 110 and 11 2 at the edgeportions 1 26 are flaps-130 and 132. Flap has a tab 184 and fiap 132 has a slit 136. With tab gcl d t inserted in slit 136, thetwoflaps are locked together grid a 1 ken side w ll .1 and 112 npaa iaieatton. When flaps 130 and 132 are unlocked from each o er, they can'be swnng forward and outwardlinto .conae r tiq i h s d walls 1102114 AnQthtiflap 140 is attached to the top edge of front wall 114. filiapldt) also prevents side walls 110 and 11 2-frorncollapsinginward.

vertieal score line 142 facilitates bending side wall 110 backon itselfto form fore and portions 1104 and .110b respectively. A corresponding score line 144 diyidesside wall 112 into fore and aft portions 112;: and =1-12b respectively. At the upper ends of score lines 142 and 144, side walls 110 and 112 are provided with horigontal slits 1,46 and .148." These slits terminate short of te ll 1 Ea n e seh s 1 6 and r a 10.8 -are two score lines 150 and 15 2; Score line 150 is at si bstantially thesame level as slit 146. Twocorrespending score lines 154 and 156 extend between slit 1 118 andrearwall 108. Preferably, score lines 150-156 .are nscribed on the inside surfaces of the side walls.

gear wall 108 has two horizontal slots 158 and 160 v,ggitending inward from its side edges at substantially .the same level and for substantially the same distance as score lines 150 ,and 152. Extending-between slots 158 and 160 and preferably formed in the rear surface of gegr .wall 108 are horizontal score lines162 and 164 wldeh spaced from each other-by an amount .equal approximately to. the thickness .of the cardboard stock.

ta senlb dathe base ofFig. :6 accommodates two F. Tray 13 rests onthe top edge of front Eil wall 114 and side edge portions and 122. Tray F is supported by edge portions 124 and 126. Preferably, tray F has a rear flap 170 which is inserted between rear wall 108 and flaps 130, 132 so as to prevent the tray from being knocked off the base accidentally.

This form of base is collapsed by disconnecting flaps and 132, pulling flap out from between the side walls, and folding the side walls back on themselves accordian-wise. Flap 140 is bent over in front of front wall 114. Then the side walls and the rear walls are folded rearwardly and downwardly along the bending line provided by score lines 162 and 164 and slots 1'58 and 160. Rearward-bending is made possible by forming the wide slots in the rear .wall instead .of the side walls as in the preferred embodiment.

As used herein, the term corrugated cardboard denotes sheet stock comprising two outer layers of paper secured to an inside layer of paper which is corrngated, i .e., shaped into straight, parallel, and regularly curved ridges and hollows.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in the light of the foregoing teachings. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement ofparts specifically described or illustrated, and that within the scope of the appended claims, it may be practiced otherwise than as' specifically described or illustrated.

I clam \1. A collapsible and foldable display stand base consup t of r t mul ip Pa er stoc sa has? comprising a vertical rear wall, 'a'pair of vertical side walls having inclined top edges, and a vertical front wall, said rear wall extending to a greater height than said front wall, saidside walls foldable inwardly uponthemselves whereby said front and rear walls may be brought toward each other accordian-wise, means attached to said front wall and positionable between saidvside walls toprevent folding of said side walls, said rear wall having two horizontal cuts at a predetermined level intermediate its upper and lower ends, said cuts commencing at theopposite side edges and extending toward but terminating short of each other by a predetermined amount, said side walls each having a horizontal cut at substantially said same predetermined level,,said side wall cuts beginning :at said inclined top edges and extending toward but terrninating short of said rear wall by an amount equal approximately to the length of the horizontal cuts in said rear wail, whereby when said side walls are folded in:- wardly said cuts in said side and rear walls are disposed series relation to provide a line of weakness along which rear and side walls are readily foldable into a compact package.

2. A collapsible and foldable display stand base as defined by claim 1 wherein said cuts in said sidel walls have a greater width than said cuts in said rear wall,

whereby said side and rear walls are foldable downwardly and forwardly along said line of weakness.

3. A collapsible and foldable display stand base as defined by.clairn 1 wherein said cuts in said rear wall have a greater Width han ,t d ti t n said S de Wa wh y s aidrear and side walls are foldable downwardly and rearwardly along said line of weakness.

4. A eollapsible merchandise display stand base formed of ,a single sheet of corrugated paper stock, said base comprising a rear wall having opposite side edges, two side walls each having a rear edge hinged to a different one of said side edges, and a front wall hinged to front .edges of said side walls, said rear wall having two cuts extending inward from its side edges and terminating .short ofthe center line of said rear wall, whereby said rear :wall is divided into upper and lower portions connected by a tab portion, each of said side walls also and terminating at a point short of its rear edge by an amount equal to the length of said rear wall cut, said each side wall scored from said point to its rear edge whereby to divide said each side wall into upper and lower hinged portions, said side walls scored vertically for folding back on themselves whereby said front and rear walls may be moved toward each other to collapse said base accordian-wise, said rear wall cuts and said side wall cuts all located at approximately the same level whereby when said base is collapsed said upper portions may be swung down into substantially parallel relation with said lower portions.

5. A collapsible hollow base for a merchandise display stand, said base formed of a single sheettof corrugated paper stock, said base comprising a rear vertical wall having opposite side edges, two side walls each having front and rear edges, said rear edges hinged to the adjacent side edges of said rear wall, and a front wall having opposite side edges hinged to the adjacent front edges of said side walls, said side walls foldable along predetermined vertical lines whereby said front and rear walls may be brought together aecordian-wise, said rear wall having two longitudinally aligned horizontal cuts dividing said rear wall into an upper section and a lower section, said slits extending inwardly of said side edges but terminating short of each other whereby said upper References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Folsom et al. May 26, 1936 Powers July 12, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,940,710 June 14, 1960 Raymond C. Adams It is h'ereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read'as corrected below. 4

In the heading to the printed specification, lines 3 and 4, address of inventor, for "807 Statler Bldg.

Framingham Center, Mass, read 807 Statler Bldg.-, Boston, 16, Mass.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of May 1961.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

